While Scottish supporterscof the 60s recall Bernie Perssons time at Edinburgh and Coatbridge, Doug Nicolson tells of another of that name in

The Other Bernie

Bernie Lagrosse came from Christchurch, NZ and was a friend of Ivan Mauger.When his local track Aranui close he went to Adelaide in Australia along with Mauger and returned to Christchurch in 1962 to help build the new Templeton track.

By 1965 when he was in his mid twenties he decided to come to the UK to try his hand and was based in Manchester along with fellow Kiwis Mauger, Bruce Ovenden and Graham Coombes. He often accompanied them to meetings in the hope of getting a second half ride. One such time was at Cowdenbeath where he was brought in as last minute replacement for Fife Lions in what turned out to be the last ever meeting at the track. He scored two points outpacing local juniors Eric Hanlin and Brian Black but it was another second half ride a month later that has given him a place in the annals of Glasgow Tigers history books.

Glasgow had beaten Newcastle 42-36 in one of the wettest meetings of that era – which is saying something! He was brought in to a second half heat and won it in XX.X, a respectable time given the conditions, beating Ivan Mauger in the process. Certainly it was a meaningless second half heat and Mauger was recovering from a badly broken ankle and no doubt saving himself for the British Final in ten days’ time but beat him he did and Mauger finished fastest second of the three qualifying heats to join him in the final. Perhaps predictably he finished last, but he had certainly done enough in my teenage eyes to be marked down as one for the future.

With the injury bug beginning to bite and with Templeton, Mattingley and Paulsen all missing at various times there were vacancies. Trevor Redmond, always the shrewdest of operators, quickly realised that a Manchester based rider involved less travelling expenses for away meetings and Bernie wore the stripes for away meetings at West Ham, Newport, Wimbledon and Swindon, though he only bothered the scorers in the latter meeting taking a third place when partner Coombes failed to finish. Being in the team at Wimbledon put him in line for a trip to Germany for the World Team Cup courtesy of the Supporters Club – an outing suggested by tour organiser Redmond who had spare seats on the official party. Both Him and Bruce Ovenden enjoyed the afternoon and the German beer, so much so that driving home after flying back to London was quite an ordeal.

However that ended his Tigers outings with local based Red Monteith getting the nod for a couple of meetings before the team was back at full strength.

Somewhat disillusioned he returned home saying that there was no real prospect of improving as there were no real practice facilities. He relocated to New Plymouyj where he rode just for fun but with the Second Division being formed in the UK decided to give it another go..

Keen eyed observers many have noticed his name at the foot of the scorers chart of a West German meeting where he had driven Mauger’s gear over to the Continent …but then nothing! However a “Roy Williams” appeared seemingly from nowhere at Berwick for their opening meetings and rather well he did too, following up 11 from the first meeting, a challenge against Newcastle Colts, with maximums against a Midland Select and then Teesside/Middlesbrough. Form that he maintained throughout the season to finish at the top of the Bandits averages with a figure of just under 8.00. It turns out that he was originally pencilled in for Mike Parkers Barry team and had been persuaded to adopt a Welsh sounding name to appeal to the locals. When Barry fell foul of planners red tape he accompanied Mauger to a practice at Berwick where he impressed enough to be offered a team place.

He signed off his first year by leading the Bandits to their first away win, a challenge meeting against Coatbridge Kings.

He found the pace at bit heavier the following year with the standard of the second tier improving, but still held down the third heatleader spot behind new signings Maury Robinson and Peter Kelly.

It was much the same in 1970 when he still managed a 6.00 average and was a near ever present in Bandits colours before returning home via the USA where he rode in a couple of meeting in a GB Select along with Mauger, Briggs, Airey, Gifford and Harkins. He contented himself with helping out at the track in New Plymouth before moving on to Christchurch where he became a bus driver.

Still remembered for his amazing second half race in the wet now sixty years ago.